1998-1999 Season Preview

With 31 wins in his first three seasons at the helm of the UB wrestling program, Head Coach Jim Beichner has already moved into third place for coaching wins. But that success will not satisfy Beichner, who is focused on his goal of establishing Buffalo as one of the premier programs nationwide.

Last year saw UB take a big step towards national prominence, as the Bulls sent three wrestlers to the NCAA Tournament. This year promises to be even more exciting as the Bulls join the Mid-American Conference and a chance at increasing the level of competition.

Finishing last year with a 9-6 dual meet record, the Bulls had tremendous individual success as well, as the team had five wrestlers with 30-plus wins and four more with 20-plus wins. Missing from this year's squad, however, are two of the best wrestlers in UB history. National qualifier Jeromy McVige graduated and took his 73 career wins with him. Also missing is John Stutzman, who left his name in the UB record books in many catagories, including most career wins with 93. His leadership will not be completly lost, however, as Stutzman remains with the program as an assistant coach.

Of the nine total wrestlers last year with 20-plus wins, five return for this season including 30-plus winner, senior Brian Schaal (30-11).The four with 20-plus wins who return are sophomore Josh States (26-18), senior Matt Ricci (22-19), junior Jacob Partlow (21-17) and junior Mike Garofalo (20-13).

The Bulls will have these returnees who have experience and know what it takes to win to help guide some of the younger wrestlers coming into the program. Two of the youngsters expected to make big contributions right away are freshman Ryan Bentley and Gary Cooper.

The 1998-99 Bulls will be another young squad, but that is no different from the first three years under Beichner. That youth has not been a problem in the past, with three straight solid years built around some young talent. But the work ethic and talent level in those wrestlers has led to three very successful seasons and will hopefully carry the Bulls to that next level this season.

"We have a young team this year, but the talent level and work ethic is most definetly there," said Beichner. "We have not had a preseason as good and productive as we have had this season. The future looks bright because these wrestlers are talented enough to go out and find ways to win."

"We don't make predicitions, but the one thing we can guarantee is that our guys will always be prepared, and always be ready to go out there and battle. Their conditioning will be great and their attitudes will be focused,"said Beichner. "After that, whatever happens will happen, but with those qualities, I think we can be successful."

The NCAA has instituted new weight class assignments for this season,and the Bulls have outstanding talent at each of these weights.

Leading the list of returnees is senior captain Brian Schaal. Finishing with a 30-11 record last year, he is expected to be one of the top wrestlers on the team and begins the season ranked as the top wrestler in the MAC at the 125-pound weight class. One of this years captains, Schaal is a great leader and Sophomore Josh States will be looked at to score a lot of points for the Bulls this season.

Another team captain is senior Matt Ricci, who could start at the 184 pound class. Ricci is a fifth-year senior who finished with a 22-19 record last year, his best record at UB. He is one of the best leaders and hardest workers on the team and should provide solid leadership for a young team.

Sophomore Josh States (26-18) is another 20-plus match winner who returns and will compete for the starting spot at the 184 pound class. After a successful freshman season, States has improved even more this season. Junior Jacob Partlow was a 21-match winner last season who will return at the 149 pound class. He is a scrappy wrestler who is very quick.

Another strong returnee is in the heaveyweight class. Mike Garofalo, a member of the UB football team, will return as the 18th-ranked heaveyweight in the nation. Another 20-match winner last season, Garofalo (20-13) is one of the most athletic wrestlers on the team despite his size and could provide the team with a solid season.

The biggest newcomer to the team is senior captain Jacob Schaus. A transfer from the Univeristy of Pittsburgh, Schaus is a three-time national qualifier and will be looked at for solid leadership this season. He should provide the Bulls with a solid, experienced winner at the 174-pound weight class.

Of the other newcomers, freshman Ryan Bentley, younger brother of sophomore Greg Bentley, is one of the all-time winningest high school wrestlers in western New York. Fellow freshman Gary Cooper was a three-time placer in the New York State Tournament and of his four career losses, three came against High School National Champions.

The biggest change for the 1998-99 season will be the conference affiliation. The Bulls are now members of the Mid-American Conference. Coach Beichner is excited about the conference change in that the affiliation is all inclusive. Instead of different sports being in seperrate conferences, all UB sports are now members of the MAC which makes for better competition and school rivalries.

"The MAC is a very strong conference and continues to improve year after year in everything, especially wrestling," said Beichner. "The MAC has had one of the highest winning percentages in the NCAA tournament over the last three years."

Last season, the MAC had two schools finish in the top ten at the NCAA Championships in Central Michigan (5th) and Ohio (9th). In addition, the MAC had individuals who finished eighth, two who finished second and one national champion in last year's NCAA Championships. So the quality of competition in the MAC will provide a good test for the Bulls in their efforts to reach those same high quality standards on the national level.

With this success, the MAC has earned the right to get more qualifying spots in the national tournament.

"Getting to the NCAA tournament is the goal you work for in the sport of wrestling. All the other things you do lead up to that goal," said Beichner. "We go out to win the dual meets and use those experiences to prepare for that chance to succeed in the NCAA Tournament."

· 125 Pounds ·

Senior Brian Schaal returns as a three-year starter and one of the most talented on the team. With 52 wins in his first two seasons as a starter, Schaal is epected to be a big contributor this year. Redshirt freshmen Taisei Kikuchi will backup Schaal and provides the team with a tough competitor and hard worker.

· 133 Pounds ·

Redshirt freshman Charlie Voorhees will be the starter in this weight class. Vorhees is a wrestler who uses all the proper techniques and is fundamentally sound. He worked harder than anyone last season as a freshman and is expected to be a big contributor this year.

· 141 Pounds ·

This will be a highly contested weight for the starting position. Redshirt freshman Bill Jacoutot is a very attentive learner, and studies the sport to be the best wrestler possible. He is a very technical wrestler who continues working hard to get better. Ryan Bentley is a true freshman who could also see time at this weight class. Bentley has great ability and is one of the most talented on the team. If he does not get the starting position here, a redshirt season could be possible.

· 149 Pounds ·

Junior Jacob Partlow is a third year wrestler who will get the starting spot here. Partlow is a scrappy wrestler who has the ability to escape from strange situations with his tremendous quickness. The likely backup for this position will be sophomore Greg Bentley. As the all-time winningest high school wrestler in the Western New York area, Bentley provides solid depth at this weight class. Ian McConnell is a sophomore who is a deceptively strong wrestler and will provide additional depth at this position. Junior Caleb Britain is another third year wrestler adding even more depth to this highly competative weight class.

· 157 Pounds ·

There are a number of options in this weight class. Redshirt freshman David Guarino has worked hard in the past season at developing quicker foot speed. He is especially tough on top and could start in this weight class. Another possibility in this weight class is for Jacob Partow to move up from the 149 pound spot.

· 165 Pounds ·

Freshman Gary Cooper will be the starter at this weight class. The epitome of an in-your-face wrestler, he is expected to be a tough competitor as a true freshman. Of his four losses in high school, three were against High School National Champions, so tough cometition is nothing new to Cooper as he will be major factor on this year's squad. Backing him up will be freshman Taylor Lehman and Joseph Montroy, who will redshirt this year.

· 174 Pounds ·

Senior Jacob Schaus, a transfer from the University of Pittsburgh, will get the start at this position. Although new to the UB program, Schaus is not short on experience as he qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 1996 and in 1997. A win-at-all-cost type of wreslter, Schaus is very aggressive and will provide instant leadership for the team.

· 184 Pounds ·

This weight class starting spot will likely go to fifth-year senior Matt Ricci. He is one of the best leaders and hardest workers on the team who really improved last season. One of this year's captains, Ricci will provide the team with quality leadership both on and off the mat. A backup at this spot will be Lou Chamoun, who overcame some injuries last year and the transition to college level wrestling but has improved dramatically.

· 197 Pounds ·

There are a number of guys available for this position and will all be fighting it out to see who gets the start. The spot will ilkely go to sophomore Josh States. After winning 26 matches as a freshman, States has proven that he can compete at the Division I level and will be looked at for some good things this season. Two other guys who will battling it out in this weight class are Nathan Giagios and Marcus Guy. Both are very dedicated and hard workers and could easily fill this starting position.

· Heavyweight ·

Starting at this spot will be junior John Eschenfelder. Moving up to a higher weight class, Eschenfelder has the quickness and strength to compete at this level. Moving up from 190 punds last year, Eschenfelder has 37 career wins and will give the team a solid competitor at the heavyweight division. Junior Mike Garofalo, a starter for the UB football team, may be back in the lineup in 1998-99, but will not make his decision until after the conclusion of the football season. Another backup is junior Charlie Pessa, who comes in from California. Pessa is a very intelligent wrestler and is expected to be a big contributor to the team.